Ruskeala Tour - Valaam - Kizhi

1 day:

06:30 – Bus service to St. Petersburg, Ligovsky Prospect

07:00 – Departure from Ligovsky Avenue 10

07:30 – Stop at the metro station Dybenko Street

07:30 – 9:00 Moving to Old Ladoga. Road tour

9:00 - Old Ladoga. Tour of the Old Ladoga Fortress

Modern museums are opened on the territory of the fortress. Through the halls of museums, on the fortress walls, we invite you to walk with a local guide.

 

13:00 – Arrival at the Alexander Svir Monastery.

Lunch.

A visit to the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery will begin with free time for lunch in the restaurant of the hotel complex "Old Sloboda". (for additional fee, 350-450 rubles)

14:00 – Excursion to the Alexander Svir Monastery.

It is a holy place and the center of the spread of Russian culture to the northern lands of the Karelians and Veps. The monastery is about 500 years old.

Being the residence of Karelian bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Alexander Svir Monastery had no shortage of money and was constantly being built.

15:30 - Departure to Petrozavodsk.

18:00 – Interactive program in the most fun village of Kindasovo

The village of Kindasovo is the “sovereign state” that the Kindasovites claim to be, and the most cheerful village in Karelia.

Upon arrival, you will immediately fall into the hands of the Fun Family. During the interactive program, they will acquaint you with the musical culture of Karelia and such words as “kantele”, “yuhikko”, “yugi”, “piirileiki”, “runes” will acquire meaning.

20:30-21:00 Arrival in Petrozavodsk. Hotel check-in, dinner and rest

In Petrozavodsk, there are several restaurants offering guests to try national dishes according to ancient recipes.

Day 2:

08:00 - Breakfast at the hotel.

Gathering a group and moving to the pier to the ship on the island of Kizhi

11:30 – Arrival on Kizhi Island. Sightseeing tour and free time

The basis of the exposition of the open-air museum is the central part of the Kizhsky churchyard with a dominant in the form of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, whose silhouette is known throughout the world. But in fact, the exhibit is every wooden building on the island, of which there are dozens.

Kizhi Island is huge, several villages are freely located on it. The villages are residential, but the houses are all monuments of wooden architecture of the 18-19 centuries. You can get acquainted with them in your free time from the tour.

17:00 – Return to Petrozavodsk. Free time for dinner and rest.

Additional information:

A trip to Kizhi Island is the main, but not the only option to spend the second day of the tour. If you wish, you can join a tourist group, which on our bus in the morning will go to the Kivach waterfall, the Girvas volcano and the mineral springs - Marcial Waters.

Day 3:

08:00 - Breakfast at the hotel. Group gathering on the bus

11:00 – Karelian village of Kinerma.

Here, neither a house, a monument of wooden architecture of the 19th century. The entire architectural complex of residential buildings and chapels is a museum dedicated to the life and life of Karelian peasants. In 2016, Kinerma was recognized as the most beautiful village in Russia.

As part of the excursion with a local resident, tourists will visit a traditional peasant house and hear a story about the village customs and traditions of the Karelians.

Since the tour is conducted by locals who do not always have the opportunity to receive groups, a visit to Kinerma may not take place on some of the trips. For the same reason, this tour is not included in the default tour price.

12:00 – departure towards Kiryavalahti Bay.

We are waiting for a picturesque road to one of the most famous sights of Karelia. The first half of the way you can take a nap, and then be sure to see the incredible beauty of the motley bay of Kiryavalahti. The road there will wind a snake along the very edge of Lake Ladoga, opening amazing views of the Ladoga skerries.

14:00 – Stop at the Ruskeal waterfalls Ahvenkoski

The waterfalls have the Finnish name Akhvenkoski, but many call this place Ruskeal waterfalls.

15:00 – Ruskeala Mountain Park. Sightseeing tour and free time.

Ruskeala - ancient royal quarries, marble mining here began under Catherine the Second.

Transfer to Sortavala.

19:00 – Check-in at a hotel in Sortavala. Free time for dinner and rest and

Day 4:

08:00 - Breakfast at the hotel. Individual transfer from the hotel to the beginning of the excursion to the waterfalls.

After breakfast, a car will pick you up at the hotel, which will take you to Pitkäranta, located 70 kilometers from Sortavala. This is the starting point of the excursion to the forest waterfalls of Karelia.

09:00 – Excursion to the ancient waterfalls of Karelia.

The purpose of the tour is the White Bridges waterfall. This is one of the largest and most famous waterfalls of Karelia. It is located on the forest river Kulismajoki and falls from a granite ledge with two sleeves.

You will also see the Koirino waterfalls, which also break up into several streams.

During the trip, we are waiting for another interesting adventure that can be arranged only in Karelia! We will visit an abandoned deposit of semi-precious grenade stone, and everyone will be able to get a small piece with a hammer and take it home as a memory.

14:00 - Return to Sortavala. Free time.

We recommend visiting one of the most interesting museums of the northern Ladoga region - the art center of Sortavala with an exhibition of works by artist Kronid Gogolev. Here you will see epic paintings made in the technique of relief wood carving.

Day 5:

08:00 - Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 – Meteor Departure to Valaam Island

(The approximate time of the excursion is from 9:00 to 16:00 or from 11:00 to 18:00, the time depends on the occupancy of meteors. The exact departure time will be indicated in the voucher issued by the bus guide.

Due to weather conditions, the flight can be officially canceled by the Valaam pilgrimage service.

10:00 – Tour of Valaam Island

From the pier of the Monastery Bay leads the road to Mount Tabor to the central estate of the Valaam Monastery.

The program includes a visit to the Transfiguration Cathedral, the Assumption Refectory Church. You will also see the newly built church of the Valaam Icon of the Mother of God, cell and household buildings of the monastery, visit the church and souvenir shops at the monastery.

12:30 - Lunch stop at the monastery refectory

The second part of the tour of the island begins with a move to Nikon Bay.

From here, the tour will continue through the area, which a hundred years ago was called “New Jerusalem”.

You will see the Resurrection Skete, the church of which is made in the style of early Christian chapels. The route will continue along the forest road to the Gethsemane Skete with the wooden church of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos.

The tour ends on the Mount of Olives – a hill above Ladoga, from where a stunning “postcard” view of the lake opens.

18:00 - Return to Sortavala. Boarding the bus to St. Petersburg

23:00 – Return to St. Petersburg. End of tour.